BBC Extends RHS Contract

Monday 15 May 2017

The BBC has today announced a new four year contract and partnership with the RHS that will see the broadcaster retain its position as the exclusive broadcaster of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The new deal, which starts in 2018, will see the BBC commit to broadcasting from the event until the end of 2021 with coverage across TV, Radio and online.

Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, said:
“The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always a major highlight of the spring schedule. I’m delighted that we will be working with the brilliant RHS team for another four years. It's a show that is loved by the public and its natural home is on the BBC. Not only that, the BBC will also expand its coverage to include other RHS events around the country. Across our channels we will be able to bring the magic of these wonderful events to audiences across the country."

The deal also includes a commitment to broadcasting exclusively from the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Plus it will cover the new RHS Garden at Bridgewater and other opportunities to bring RHS content to wider audiences through Gardener’s World. In addition, there will be a new Daytime series following Britain in Bloom, broadcasting in 2018.

With access to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain In Bloom Awards and its judging process, Britain in Bloom for BBC Two (6.30pm) will follow this Great British competition which is now over 50 years old. Each episode presenter Chris Bavin will visit a different community around the UK as they prepare for judging. The series will reveal how Bloom has touched many lives, brought communities together and shaped local pride. From the smallest villages to the biggest cities, this series will reflect the diversity of Bloom categories and the local heroes at the heart of them. The series is being produced by Electric Ray for BBC Two.

The creation of RHS Garden Bridgewater will be one of the largest gardening projects in Europe. The first phase includes the restoration of the 11 acre Walled Kitchen Garden, one of the largest in the UK. Plans also include a new schools’ Learning Centre to grow young people's horticultural knowledge. The BBC will be following the creation of the new garden through all the phases.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said:
“We are thrilled to have extended our partnership with the BBC across all its platforms until 2021 and are so excited about the increased opportunities presented by the BBC’s expanded coverage of our work, which includes a new TV series on our flagship Britain in Bloom campaign.

“We look forward to working with the very talented teams across the BBC for another four years.

“The continuation of this fabulous partnership will help showcase our work to an even wider audience, supporting our vision to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.”

Coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is produced by BBC Studios’ Unscripted Unit and will start on May 21. BBC One programming will be fronted by Sophie Raworth and Joe Swift, with Monty Don and Joe Swift presenting coverage on BBC Two. Nikki Chapman and James Wong will broadcast on BBC One during the daytime schedule and a range of presenters including Rachel de Thame, Carol Klein, Adam Frost and some of the newest faces to join the Gardeners’ World family including Nick Bailey, Arit Anderson, Frances Tophill and Mark Lane will also be appearing on the programmes.

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Notes to editors

About the RHS

The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood to inspire passion and excellence in the science, art and practice of horticulture. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. We believe everyone in every village, town and city should benefit from growing plants to enhance lives, build stronger, healthier, happier communities and create better places to live.

We held our first flower shows in 1820, were granted a Royal Charter in 1861 and acquired RHS Garden Wisley, our flagship garden, in 1903. From our first meetings in a small room off London’s Piccadilly, we have grown to become the world’s largest gardening charity. At our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes we inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, promote the value of gardens, demonstrate how gardening is good for us and explain the vital roles that plants undertake.

The RHS is committed to bring the joy of gardening to millions more people, inspire the next generation of gardeners and invest in the future to safeguard a £10.4 billion industry employing more than 300,000 people. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters. RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and help us secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 020 3176 5820, or visit www.rhs.org.uk/join

About the RHS

The RHS believes that gardening improves the quality of life and that everyone should have access to great garden experiences. As a charity we help to bring gardening into people's lives and support gardeners of all levels and abilities; whether they are expert horticulturists or children who are planting seeds for the very first time.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk